The integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into digital planning workflows via Building Information Modeling (BIM) is widely discussed in research and practice. However, both technical and procedural standardization remains insufficient. In particular, a harmonized information model is lacking that enables efficient, planning-integrated LCA across project phases while ensuring IFC-based interoperability. Existing research approaches (e.g., Horn et al. 2020) often remain too abstract or disconnected from practical needs to be operationally effective.
This paper introduces a practice-oriented modeling method that makes the required semantic information accessible via a multi-granular reference structure. This enables the transferable mapping of both generic and layer-based LCA data to building components. The method builds on a previously developed BPMN-based, phase-spanning process model for BIM-LCA integration (Scherle & von Both 2025).
Instead of attaching long property lists directly to components, the proposed reference structure links LCA-relevant attributes to defined decomposition levels of the building model. This allows semantic consistency and progressive refinement from early to detailed phases—without requiring new modeling entities. The structure aligns with real-world planning workflows, established classification systems, and certification schemes like QNG. It supports both early-stage assessments and detailed “as-built” LCA, ensuring interoperability and practical applicability across planning phases.
Focusing on the use case of an “as-built” LCA, the paper proposes a detailed modeling concept for the required information objects and their integration as base for the formalization by an Information Delivery Manual (IDM).
The authors are actively involved in current standardization efforts (VDI 2552-11.4, buildingSMART Sustainability Group), ensuring the results feed directly into ongoing IFC-based LCA standardization initiatives.
References
Horn et al. (2020): The BIM2LCA Approach. Sustainability, 12(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166558
Scherle & von Both (2025): Analysis of BIM-LCA Integration. Accepted for eCAADe 2025 Conference, Ankara.